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Republican leaders of the House of Representatives pulled legislation to overhaul the US healthcare system from consideration due to a shortage of votes, despite desperate lobbying by the White House.

Republican leaders had planned a vote on the measure after Trump cut off negotiations and issued an ultimatum to vote today, win or lose.

Without the bill's passage in Congress, Democratic former President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement, known as Obamacare, will remain in place despite seven years of Republican promises to dismantle it.